The USDA public breeding program developed Vista hops, originally USDA Elite Line 074, in 2006. With a diverse lineage including Perle, Northern Brewer, and Hallertauer, they were released after positive feedback from brewers at the 2019 Hopsource event.
Known for their unique aroma and flavor, Vista hops offer tropical fruit, tangerine, melon, pear, and green tea notes. These characteristics make them versatile and potent, earning high rankings in blind smell tests.
Vista hops are ideal for fruit-forward IPAs, Pale Ales, lagers, pilsners, and DDH hazy, juicy IPAs. Their versatility and intensity allow them to elevate both fruity brews and lighter, more delicate beers.
| Usage: | Dual-Purpose |
| Country of Origin: | United States |
| Hop Growers Code: | N/A |
Where To Buy Vista Hops
Vista Flavor And Aroma
Vista is a dual-purpose hop that is often described to have the following aroma characteristics:
citrus
floral
herbal
Vista Hop Oil Breakdown
Hop oils can vary from year to year and farm to farm but based on our research, here are the typical values we have seen reported. This information comes from various hop farms, The Hop Aroma Compendium, and For The Love Of Hops.
| Alpha Acid % (AA) Alpha acids are what is isomerized when boiling to create bitterness in beer. | 8% – 12% |
| Beta Acid % Beta acids are what give hops their more aroma and flavor compounds. | 3.5% – 5.5% |
| Alpha-Beta Ratio This ratio of alpha acids to beta acids determines how quickly bitterness fades during aging. Lower ratios are common for aromatic varieties. | 1:1 – 3:1 |
| Co-Humulone as a % of Alpha Higher numbers are said to impart a harsher bitterness. | 29% – 31% |
| Total Oils (mL/100g) With more total oils, typically comes a more complex hop profile but these are highly volatile compounds. | 0.8mL – 2.2mL |
| Myrcene green, resinous | 30% – 40% |
| Humulene woody, piney | 18% – 22% |
| Caryophyllene woody | 10% – 14% |
| Farnesene floral | 0% – 1% |
| Other Oils: Includes beta-ionine, beta-pinene, limonene, linalool, geranoil & selinene | 23% – 42% |
| Hop Storage Index (HSI) The HSI indicates the percent of alpha and beta acids lost after 6 months of storage at room temperature (68°F or 20°C). | Data Not Available |
| Hop Storage Index (HSI) Rating | Data Not Available |
Vista Hop Substitutions
Replacing one hop for another is seldom straightforward but sometimes you don’t have the right hop or the right quantity of hops for the beer you want to make. For those situations, we have made a comprehensive list of hops to substitute on brew day.
These substitutions aren’t perfect as hop chemistry is pretty complex.
We wanted to make this list of substitutions with varietals that are easy to find when possible. For Vista, we recommend substituting with the following hops:
Beer Styles
For the most part, any hop could have a place in just about any beer style. Based on popular beers, historical usage, and our own preferences, we would recommend using Vista for IPA, New England IPA, Pale Ale, Wheat Beer, Golden Ale. That being said, experiment and see what works best for you.
References
https://www.hopslist.com/
https://www.ars.usda.gov/
https://www.brewersassociation.org/
https://www.barthhaasx.com/
https://www.yakimachief.com/
Hieronymus, Stan. For The Love of Hops. Brewers Publications, 2012
The Hop Aroma Compendium. 2012
